Pinellas military family serving vets during Season of Giving

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A Pinellas County military family has dedicated their lives to service.

The family patriarch, a World War II U.S. Navy veteran living at a Bay Pines VA assisted living facility, inspired his family to give back.

At 99 years old, Mr. Harlan Springer has lived a remarkable life.

“I’m thankful for being here because I never expected to live this long,” said Springer.

Like many of his greatest generation peers, they have many remarkable stories to tell.

Springer recalled when he enlisted in the Navy during the war, and it was him “having two brothers and a friend in there” that was not about to keep him home.

The Veterans Health Administration produced a video of Springer documenting time in service.

Springer was stationed on a destroyer vessel of a carrier fleet in the Pacific theatre of the war. Now, he lives at the Bay Pines VA Community Living Center in St. Petersburg.

Spectrum Bay News 9 sat down with Springer to learn more about his life story and legacy, like the remarkable date he joined the war.

“You see, it was June the sixth of 1944, and many years later I found out it was D-Day,” said Springer.

Stories like Springer’s inspired generations after him, especially hitting closer to home.

Chelbie Harrison is Springer’s great-granddaughter, and helped push Springer in his wheelchair around the facility for his daily stroll.

“It’s very often, his name will pop up on the screen, and then my great-grandpa is ready to be picked up,” said Harrison.

Harrison works at Bay Pines VA as a nursing assistant.

“I get to see how his day is going and get to tell him about mine,” she said. “And I get to tell him about the newest things happening with his great-great-grands, who he always enjoys hearing about, right, Grandpa?”

“Oh, yes!” responded Springer excitedly.

While Cole Long, Harrison’s brother or Springer’s great grandson, is also making the rounds at Bay Pines as a registered nurse.

Their mom, Christine Long or Springer’s granddaughter, also works at Bay Pines VA.

Every year she works to organize and participates in the Adopt-a-Veteran program.

Over the years the combined family has supported hundreds of military families to celebrate the holiday season.

All three family members are immensely proud of the service they provide, and said they are inspired by their remarkable grandfather and his friends at the VA.

“I take pride in being able to give back and take care of the veterans who took care of us and fought with their lives to have our freedoms,” said Harrison.

“They’ve been through a lot so it’s nice to give back to them,” said Cole. “It’s rewarding.”

As for Springer, it is another Christmas he is celebrating and even crafting gifts for the youngest of the generations, his great-great-grandkids.

And he is looking forward to another milestone for the holidays.

“You know I’m 99 and I understand I got a one percent chance to make it to 100…so statistically,” he said. “But I’m going to do it, I’ve decided.”

He has had 99 remarkable years and now one big reason to be thankful this holiday season.

Find your local Veterans Health Administration Community Living Center for more information on healthcare and support.